A PLEA FOR WOMEN

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 51, 28 August 1925, Page 9

A PLEA FOR WOMEN

IN EMPIRE MIGRATION

TO BALANCE THE SEXES

MRS. MOOBE POINTS THE WAY.

One of the greatest defects in the admittedly imperfect system of Empire migration to-day is the numerical preponderance of men over women migrants. In spite of the loss of life among the male population of the Dominions during tho war there are still in every Dominion considerably move men than women. On the contrary, the Motherland has far more women than men. If, therefore, Britain sends over seas more men than women, the effect is to accentuate the evils of a disparity of the sexes at both ends. In the Dominions there are not enough girls to go round, while at Home there is a grievous shortage of marriageable men. What is the cause of this state of affairs and what are the Dominions and the Motherland going to do about it? This is the question which specially interests Mrs. Arthur Moore, of the Empire Press Delegation, who has taken advantage of her brief sojourn in the Dominion to investigate our immigration system from this aspect. "I do not think New Zealand has given sufficient attention to tho woman migrant," said Mrs. Moore when approached on the subject by a representative of "The Post" yesterday. "While every care seema to be. taken with the selection of the men and the boys, the supervision does not appear to be so thorough with regard to the women. This would be quite sufficient to explain any dissatisfaction that may exist with the service obtained from some of the 'domestics' introduced. One could hardly expect the best results from transplanting servant girls j from tho great cities of England into the country districts of New Zealand. EXTEND FLOCK HOUSE SCHEME "What do you suggest, then?" "I should say that an extension of the admirable Flock House - scheme, which I understand is proposed, to girls of the same ages as tho boys," replied Mrs. Moore, "would give you the I right type of girls you want in this | country. Of courso, one would like to j eeo the Flock House system on a much larger scale than it is at present, but j I cau appreciate the difficulties—from I your point of view. But if the girls j could get the sort of .training needed for domestic work in tho country, with" instruction in the arts of keeping poultry and bees and co forth, they would become a very useful asset to the Dominion. There are many English girls who would welcome the opportunity to fit themselves for life in the New Zealand countryside. Our land girls showed their quality' during the war when the menfolk were away. Thia is one direction in which the problem may be tackled with good prospects.

SPLENDID WOMEN SETTLERS "There is another class of woman migrant who would bo very useful to your country," continued Mrs. Moore earnestly. "Thero are many splendid women in Britain who did valuable service during .the war, women who lost, their husbands and have children and are nov; having.-a hard struggle to'exist under present conditions. They are women of .character and culture for whom tho outlook in crowded England is not rosy, but who, under the conditions which prevail in your beautiful" country, would make a most oxcollent type of settler. They are women who developed initiative in arduous and trying conditions, and they would not need spoon-feeding, only just .a kind, friondly welcomo on their arrival snd a little guidance ,at the start. Really, I think New Zealand would be the gainer by this class of woman colonist. Their children, where there is a family, would soon adapt themselves to the new life and become ideal citizens of their new country. You have tho type at Flock House and the public schoolboys in Taranaki. NEW ZEALAND THE GAINER Asked whether she thought that such Englishwomen, accustomed to the life of great cities and the amenities of nn old historical land, could put up with conditions in a new country, Mrs. Moore roplied most decidedly in the affirmative.' She drew a pathetic picture of loneliness in tho same great cities, ■which needed a brave heart to bear, and declared that the friendly atmosphere of a new country would open up a new life for ■ these women. There were remarkable opportunities in New Zealand for the right type of immigrant, and she felt sorry that the attractions of the country were not better known. The time was never so opportune for getting from Britain tho very best type of settler, both man and woman. She was quite sure that any effort made at this end in tho way of a kindly reception and in London in seeking the right class would be richly rewarded in the long run. New Zealand had nothing to lose, by such an effort, _